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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 7609344" data-attributes="member: 6971069">Of Fire and Fate - 05/23/2019Of Fire and FateThere are many regrets one can acquire in a lifetime.  Should have, Could have, Would have. It is occasionally nice to say though:  “Nope!  I don’t regret that!” Not that it was obvious at the time.The hissing sound came from the left and the right, and within moments our small band was surrounded by troglodytes.  The smell was overpowering, and it took quiet the effort to contain myself and not retch.  Daneath and Iesa went left, and Berevan and Veceri went right.  I don’t remember how many there were total, but it became chaotic, as the lizard like folk charged from behind stalagmites from both sides.   I focused more on the right side, guessing that Berevan and Veceri might need more assistance. The iron blades worked well together against the Troglodytes.  They stood shoulder to shoulder and covered each other well.  Berevan on the right would strike out at one first, and pulled back defensively, allowing Veceri to lunge forward, strike and retrench, readying themselves for the next go around.  Except while they focused one creature at a time, I was able to focus on two at once.As I reached towards the Troglodytes with some of the dark energy, I realized that if they were close enough, that I could lash it to two of them.  So I coiled my will around a pair, and pulled at their life’s essence.  Tapping it and pulling it away from them in equal measure.  Berevan certainly noticed, exclaiming, “by the Gods,” as ghostly skeletal hands reached out and clung onto our smelly foes.Meanwhile Daneath was proving himself a more dangerous foe; several times one of the Trogs would miss him, creating an opening for a quick riposte.  The surprised foe then would be brought down quickly with a rapier thrust from Iesa.  The creatures were disorganized; flailing at shields and attempting to bite at anything within reach.  As they assaulted our party the stench they exuded became even stronger.  I fought as hard to maintain control of the dark magic I was tapping, as much as my stomach to hold onto its contents.   Tears were streaming down my face as the combat dragged on.   Berevan at one point was almost overwhelmed and was staggering barely able to hold up his shield.  But Veceri was able to lean into him and together held up.  Fortunately, because the troglodytes weren’t organized, they didn’t swarm us all at once, rather streaming in one or two at time.  This enabled us to cut them down quickly in time for the next ones rushing to our weapons.  And soon, we stood over a pile of nearly a dozen corpses.  The only sound in the air was the ones of our heavy breathing and the dripping of water from the ceiling.“See?  Smelly Troglodytes, decent arms, no problem,” Iesa said with a smile.Mo ran back on Iesa’s shoulder, and he patted him gingerly.  “And you shouldn’t run off like that Mo,” he chided.“Let’s get to the door, and see if we can get a quick breather.  It should be close,” Daneath said business like.We continued to the left and the air became clearer, and within moments we were in front of the bound door, that led upwards to the manor house.  We approached it, and Iesa placed his ear to the surface a moment, straining to hear anything.  After a moment he nodded and produced the key and with a little work, unlocked the door and Daneath pulled it open.Daneath shone his shield into the chamber.  Nothing had changed.  The scraps of cloth on the ground from our escape.  Iesa quickly looked at the inside of the door, brushing his fingers over the lock.“I don’t think they found this place,” he whispered.  “There’s no sign that anyone tried to force the lock, or pick it open.”“Then they haven’t found the door either,” I said.  “Let’s rest and get ready.”“Ready for what?” Veceri asked.“That is the question.  Hopefully only some guards.  Otherwise…well we’ll improvise,” Iesa replied quietly.We sat down on the chamber floor.  I tended the limited wounds our band had, pouring in more light where needed, and then sat down myself.  And hoped.This was the moment, the gamble we all took.  Well…almost all.  Beepu was dead against it, and stood by his principles.  I guess I could respect that, although I wished he was here.  Sitting there I wondered if I could really do this. I wanted to leave.  This town.  This plane.  But that ever-present feeling of being trapped just clung to me.  My friends agreed to a deal that essentially was a “life for life.” Mine for hers.  I didn’t even know who ‘she’ was. Could I even turn back now?  I kept telling myself that it was going to work out fine.  That it was for the best.  With my head hung low I did the only thing I could think of.  I prayed.No one should be alone, in life or death,Death is part of life, not an ending but a beginningDeath is without deceit and has meaning,I will strive to help those to live, So, they can die at their appointed time,I will honor those who have died before me,For it is their lives and deeds that give us the world today,Bless me to live until my appointed time, So, my deeds will live forever,So be the will of my Lord, and my desire in faithMay Death grant us peace.I just hoped my deeds were worth all of this effort.“You ready Myr?” Daneath asked, snapping me back to reality.  I simply nodded and after quick deep breath, stood up and began the ascent up the stairway.If going down took forever, going up with arms and armor took an eternity.  It was exhausting work, and I lost count of the steps after a hundred and twenty.  But, this stairway had an end, and finally we reached it.As we approached the top, I changed the light on Daneath’s shield from a bright yellow to a deep red.  Iesa once again stepped in front and listen to the wooden closet door that led into the sitting chamber. He pressed his ear against the wood and we all held our breath.  He took his time, and then he turned his head to look at us and shook it.“I don’t hear anything,” he whispered.“Get ready to open the door,” and I saw Iesa hands on the lock mechanism, and I snuffed out the light.The darkness only highlighted the noises of our breathing.  After a moment I heard the door open, and dim light entered the closet.We all stepped out one by one.  Somehow Daneath sounded quiet in his armor, more so than Veceri or Berevan.  In the sitting room was a lone set of candles in a sconce.  The door to the adjacent chamber was closed, as was the one to the bedroom itself.  But there were no guards in the room itself.  Mo scampered to a nearby shelf and watched quietly.Iesa made his way to the doors leading outward and listened.  His head moved sharply upward and held two fingers and then he pointed to either side of the door.  He then bent to the door it self and took out his picks and very slowly began to work the lock.  After a moment, he retracted the picks and put a small rod of metal in the lock.  He then made his way to the bedroom door and listened.  After a moment, he held out a single finger in the candlelight.Our target was alone.Daneath moved over towards the door, and Veceri and Berevan were about to follow, when I stopped them.“No.  Leave this to us, we need you to hold this door.”The two looked at me puzzled.  “What?  We are in this together, as dirty a deed as it is.”“No!  Right now, if something goes wrong, we need this door to stay shut.  It will mean the difference on everyone leaving!”  I said hissing.  “This is about all of us going back alive!  I am not ready to die again…and you aren’t going to start.”  And I gestured to the door.Iesa opened the door to the bedroom quietly and stepped inside, and Daneath entered as well.  “Look, Myrai, we are here to help do this,” said Veceri.“Then help by keeping this door—”And before I finished, an explosion of flame came from the bedroom, and I heard Iesa scream in pain.  From beyond the door I could hear muffled sounds.“Hold.  That.  Door.”  I said.“What with?” Berevan asked.“Block it with the furniture.  Do anything.  This is your mission!” I said, and I turned and ran to the bedroom where I could hear a fight.Entering the doorway, I saw crumpled on the ground Iesa, still smoking from flames.  Daneath was moving towards a figure standing in the bed.  A figure that I was familiar with.The room was dark enough that my new site had clarity.  The woman was dressed in a nightgown, made of silk.  Her dark hair was shoulder length and was a chaotic mess.  Her red skin had a slight sheen in sweat and in one hand she held a dagger pointed straight at Daneath.  Her eyes were simple molten orbs of red.  Her horns elegantly curving around her eyes, like a ram.  Her face was a mixture of pain and anger and she cast a bolt of fire, striking Daneath square in the chest, sending embers everywhere.  She was screaming as she wove her magic.  She was going to be heard.I quickly threw a bolt of energy at her, catching her in the shoulder with the blast, nearly knocking her of balance.  She turned to glare at me, and her eyes kept darting between Daneath and myself.  But she wasn’t focused on me enough for her to hear a simple word I said.“Lannasa,” I said in Celestial.Iesas eyes twitched a moment and he blinked.  Still laying on the floor, he quietly reached over to his rapier that had fallen next to him.  Behind me was a racket as many people were working on beating down the door.  I could hear Veceri and Berevan both make strained noises, keeping the guards from interfering. While the tiefling was preparing another fiery blast, Daneath swung at her with his sword.  And just as she was about cast the bolt of energy at him again, Iesa sprang up to his feet and lunged, striking her square in the abdomen.  I could see her face puzzled and she turned to look at him in surprise as she fell to her knees.  Her face struggling to process how the foe she had just felled, had now struck a mortal blow.  Her head rolled backwards and she fell down onto the bed.  She lay gasping for breath, and Iesa in a fluid motion had drawn a dagger, and was about to plunge it into her, when he stopped.  His hand shaking.  His face was contorted and confused; just by looking at him I could see all the emotions I felt before cross his face.“Spare her; take her with us,” I said.With those words, he brought the hilt of the dagger against her temple, and her eyes closed.“Are you serious?” Daneath said.  “Yes,” I said “She knows more, and we don’t know the questions.  She’s worth more alive.  Bind her hands, gag her, and blindfold her somehow.Iesa looked at Daneath and nodded and pulled some rope from his pack.  “She’s right.  Besides, can’t call it murder this way either.”“Put some cloth on her wounds; I’ll fix them on the way down.”  And with that I moved to the sitting room.   A divan, a table and a pair of chairs were pushed up against the doors.  And against them, the two warriors were straining.  The looked at me in desperation and as they did so, the blade of an axe pierced the door.  Behind me, Iesa dashed out and held out his arm for Mo, who quickly scampered onto his shoulder, and he ran into the closet and down the stairs.  Behind him Daneath ran with a figure wrapped in bedsheets over his shoulder.  As he ran I poured enough energy to prevent her from dying outright.  And then I put energy to make light appear from his gauntlet.  He nodded and ran into the closet and down the stairs.“Time to go, you first, I’ll close the door.”  Berevan and Veceri nodded and ran for the closet, with me close in tow.  I could hear them clattering down the stairs, following the light ahead.  I could hear the axe blows and could here the bellowing of the captain now:“Inside!  We cannot let them essscape!”And I closed the door and fled in down the stairs in the darkness.As we fled downward it was at first quiet.  Then I could hear the axes on the door above and knew that our time was short.  We pressed on again with our descent.  When we all reached the chamber with the pools and the door we stopped a moment.  I checked our captive and made sure she still breathed, and we exited the bound door.  Once on the other side, Iesa took the time to jam the lock with another iron shard.  Grinning with satisfaction, Iesa nodded.  And together we fled into the darkness.-----------------The gate opened, and Mordai stepped into the marshalling yard of the Iron Blades.   His look was bemused as he looked over the grounds.  Exiting from the main building, Arryn emerged with a similar smile.“Arryn…it has been a while.”“Our interests seldom intersect Mordai, so not much reason for social calls.”Mordai chuckled, “No, I suppose not.  So why the change in heart?  Is there some offer I made that you wish to take advantage of?  But I don’t ever recall making one for you.  You didn’t seem the type.“All I’m doing is facilitating a meeting.”“A meeting?  Isn’t that what we are doing now?”“Perhaps,” I said as I stepped out of the shadows of the armory door. “But, we did need to make sure you were in a mood to listen.”Mordai turned to face me “Ah, so I was correct you haven’t left town.  Saves me a lot of time.”  He looked at Arryn, “I’m sure she has quite a tale she has spun with honeyed words.”“She has…but the tale is mostly for you.  I’m just keeping the peace,” Arryn said simply and stood impassively watching the two of us.“And so, what would you have to say that would have any interest to me?” Mordai said with a tone of distaste.“Well, I admit we may not be the best in following orders as given.  We do take some pride in not making mistakes.”“Mistakes?  Like this?” Mordai said gesturing around himself.  “A broken deal is still that; a broken deal.”“You are absolutely right.  But being unable to ask questions, put us in a bind.  Perhaps we could have done better if we knew what to do with two women each claiming to be Nestra.”Mordai narrowed his eyes and looked at me, as I approached him in the courtyard. “What game are you playing at?”“The oldest one.  Practiced by Baatezu, Tanar’ri and Yugoloth alike.  A game of bargains.  And one lesson that you learn very quickly, is that the one with the most information has the most leverage in any deal.” And I circled him, seeing his face getting more confused.“You are playing with words.  Get to the point, two women?”I nodded and continued circling, “Yes, one upstairs holding a party looking all rare and fine and in charge.  But little did you know of another, trapped beneath the manor by her own staff.  A captive.  The real Nestra.”I could see Mordai’s mind racing and thinking, “That’s an interesting…tale.  Original if marked with the flaws of a bad trope used by bards.  And so, you had difficulty figuring out which was which then?”I stopped and looked him in the eye, “No that was pretty easy.  But your…orders didn’t give much in the way of discretion.  What if harm came to the wrong one.  So, the nice thing about being in the halls of power, is that you can ask the right questions.   And so, we did, and we have a new deal for you.”“A new…deal.  You are presuming a lot.  Even if I believed you.”“You should Mordai,” Arryn said.  “After all, Myrai there is telling the truth and you have a good deal on your hands.  If you let it.”“Alright then,” Mordai again looked at me.  “What deal?”“Nestra, the proper one is interested in keeping its deals with the Crimson Star as it was before the recent…problems.  In fact, it has come to her attention that her seneschal has been acting against the interests of Yartar, and therefore you as well.”“You have my attention then, there is more?”“In fact, one of Vicam’s staff has been impersonating the Baroness for some time.  So, she has seen fit to pass sentence upon her.”“Worthless.  This imposter is beyond your reach now.”“Sadly, that is true.  However, she is within yours.”“I don’t understand,” again sounding puzzled.“The Baroness has passed sentence on her imposter in person.  And it seems she has some, not so fond memories of her.  So, the Waterbaroness’ sentence places the women’s fate…in your hands.”Now he was taken aback, “Mine?”“Of course.  It takes someone sneaky and underhanded to ask the right questions of someone sneaky and underhanded,” I said with a smile, and watching him bristle.  “So, her life is yours.  Yours to question and root out all the conspirators against her Excellency.  Her rewards for you are…great I’m told.”Mordai looked at Arryn with disbelief, “I admit what I am hearing is…interesting.  And you vouch for this, you agree with it?”Arryn shrugged, “This is treason we are talking about.  A time when loyalists are rewarded for service.  But the offer is good.  The woman can be brought where you need her.”“No need, my men are outside the walls here,” Mordali said and took a step towards me, nodding slightly and with a slight grin on his face.  “Our bargain is concluded, and your debt paid.  You do understand the currency of the realm it seems.”I smiled and stepped close to him and said in a well-practiced voice; “En mar a lechtang’gi et a sanjeb tantok.”  To which his eyes widened in surprise.“I didn’t realize you spoke…the tongue.” He said eying me nervously.“When you live among Baatezu and make deals with them, you better understand the pitch you are playing on.” I said.  “Take care Mordai.  The future might be messy, but somehow I think you will do…just fine.”  And I turned and made my way back to the main building in the yard, passing Arryn.“What did you say to him?  He looks…shocked.”“A reminder that the games we play, were invented long before us mortals.”Session NotesThe quote uttered was “I had the oldest and best teachers.”  And as far as my backstory was concerned, if you make a bad deal with a fiend, you better learn something. Yep, Mordai was surprised.  As it turns out the players collectively are terrible interrogators.  Partially because lack of skill, and really really bad questions.  But in the end, we realized we didn’t need answers, Mordai did.  So, we made it his problem, and made plans to leave town.I was really done with Yartar as were the rest of us.  So change was good right?2,000</blockquote>

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